Fun and spirited!

Rating: 9/10 (5 March 2015)

It has been a very long time since I have seen a movie as well spirited and unburdened by current social, political or ecological world issues like Pacific Rim. Its a world in its own right. Del Toro has shown us before how capable he is at building fictional worlds in his pictures, but this one just might be his very best.
The colors, designs, audio and visual effects are wonderful and they combine perfectly to form something that will stay in your memory long after you leave the theater.
The characters are a bit different then your usual fare for summer blockbuster. They aren't sarcastic, they aren't fast talking, action savy smarties who sound like they fell out of the Joss Whedon show. They are very contained, without overblown personalities and quirks (except the scientists duo and the Ron Perlman character), who feel very humane, vulnerable and likable without forcing it down your throat.
The story is here only as a carrier for action and characters, its simply serviceable, not extraordinary in any way or form. You might even call it bad in its essence, but nobody expects Shawshank Redemption in this kind of a flick. Compared to other summer blockbusters it falls right into middle. Nothing good, nothing bad, just serviceable.
The action is where its at. The first scene gives us a lengthy "suit up" sequence where we are introduced to the world of Pacific Rim and its own techno visual language. It is followed by a fight scene amidst raging seas under lightning lit night sky. Its breathtaking, everything feels weighty and larger then life. Its a brilliant introduction, without too much sizzle and more then enough steak.
In conclusion Pacific Rim is the definition of summer blockbuster in its most purest form. Its fun, its showy, but it doesn't bombard you with pop culture references or annoying characters that are supposed to be forcefully charming. I predict a cult status for this movie in the following years.